Anna Lyman

B.Mus (VIU)

Anna (Acevedo) Lyman, is originally from Detroit, Michigan, and is a working musician, recording artist and educator, based on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Having studied ukulele and Hawaiian music with Ben Chong (Guitar and Ukulele player for Don Ho), among other Hawaiian instructors, Anna is an award-winning ukulele player, and as a now teaching ukulele in both group/ensemble and individual studio lessons at the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s new Westhills location in Langford.

Anna has a unique set of influences and formal education, which give her an uncommonly wide musical and educational perspective. Growing up in Detroit Michigan, during the Motown era, and in a Latin American home and being exposed to her family’s eclectic tastes, ensured that her cultural perspective would be wide. Completing her final year of high school and a Bachelor of Music in BC, also made her aware of Canadian needs with regard to music creation and instruction.

Anna’s Jazz voice music recordings have been played on CBC’s “Hot Air” Jazz program, and CBC’s North by Northwest host also interviewed her during her Bachelor of Music Jazz Studies at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo. In addition she has received airplay on KJAZZ in California. Anna is a talented singer, songwriter, and arranger of jazz, original music for voice, and also ukulele solo and ensemble music. She has written four ukulele repertoire books:

1. A Ukulele For Christmas;

2. The Ukulele Soloist;

3. The Ukulele Student Soloist; and

4. The Ukulele Orchestra, Ensemble Repertoire.

Anna has 2 commercially available CDs for sale on iTunes, “It’s Lush”, 2003, and “Sway, Quien Sera”. She performs live with the Anna Acevedo Lyman Trio, Quartet, and “Jazzalele”. She is currently recording a Christmas CD. Anna’s jazz guitar studies at VIU (2004-2008) led to her interest in the Ukulele after a sustaining a wrist injury. One of her voice students always brought his
ukulele to his lesson. Anna quickly began arranging jazz for the ukulele. In 2012 she arranged “Blue Monk” by Thelonius Monk and performed it at the 2012 Vancouver Ukulele Festival, cover song competition, winning it.

Anna is also the creator of the Nanaimo Ukulele Festival, which ran from 2011 – 2015, and 2016 “Uke-Stravaganza” in Parksville. In 2010, Anna started the Nanaimo Ukulele Circle, and began arranging for ukulele ensembles. Anna’s two Ukulele Orchestras, one in Nanaimo and one in Parksville, combine and perform as the Vancouver Island Ukulele Orchestra, www.viuke.com . The
Victoria Ukulele Orchestra is her newest ensemble.

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The Victoria Conservatory of Music wishes to recognize and acknowledge the Songhees, Esquimalt, W̱ SÁNEĆ and Beecher Bay Nations, on whose traditional territories we are privileged to work, create, and perform.